In the far north of Italy lies the valley of the ice-cream makers- about a dozen villages where, for generations, people have specialised in making ice-cream. Master maker Giuseppe Talamini claims it was actually invented here. Every spring his family sets off for the ice-cream parlour in Rotterdam, returning to the mountains only in winter.

Eldest son Giovanni Talamini decides to break with this tradition by pursuing a literary career. But then one day his younger brother, Luca, approaches him with a highly unusual request. Now Giovanni faces a dilemma- serve the family's interests one last time or choose his own path in life, once and for all.